The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has threatened to sanction any chief in the Ashanti Region who sells lands to illegal miners.
The Asantehene who expressed worry about the spate at which fertile lands in the region have been allowed to go waste due to the activities of illegal mining said he will not hesitate to sanction any chief found guilty of selling lands to galamsey operators.
[contextly_sidebar id=”7o9IZVeFh0nxPlEGo5VTCxJKuKIvIhwI”]’One worrying situation affecting the country now is galamsey, yes indeed our young ones must gain employment to feed themselves, but not to the detriment of the nation.
Our leaders have to be truthful to the young ones, and stop urging them on in the wrong direction.
if indeed they need employment in the mining sector, then they must go through the right channels, ministry of finance must do well to educate the youth on the right channels to take in gaining employment in that sector.
If i find out any of my sub-chiefs are involved in this illegal issues, i will deal with them’.
Most water bodies across the country have been destroyed in the last few years due to illegal mining activities which remain a major issue in mining areas.
Government however has announced it intends to rope in galamsey operators in the tax net, in a bid to raise more revenue to fund economic development.
Speaking at the official commissioning of the Asanko gold mine, at Manso Nkran in the Amansie West district of the Ashanti region the Asantehene urged the chiefs to comply with the directive.
The Asantehene further tasked management of the gold mine to fully engage locals in their activities.
‘We hope you work in unison to the good of Ghana. I gave you the land and if i see any foul play, i will take back my land. just as i have given you this opportunity, i hope you employ more Ghanaians to cut down unemployment rate.
Meanwhile the mining firm currently has a workforce of 1,500 people of which 40 percent are locals.
Gold mined from the mine will be exported.
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By: Hawa Iddrisu/Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinesnews.com/Ghana
